Israeli forces detain two Palestinians from Jericho

Sept. 13, 2015 11:49 A.M. (Updated: Sept. 13, 2015 2:17 P.M.)

(MaanImages)

JERICHO (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces on Sunday detained two brothers from Aqbat Jaber refugee camp in the southern West Bank district of Jericho after raiding the camp and ransacking their homes, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society told Ma'an.

The detainees were identified as Tareq Hazem Dawwas, 40, and his brother Khalil Hazem Dawwas, 27.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed the detainments, adding that the two men were suspected of "illegal activity."

Israeli forces routinely detain Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, often on the pretext of perceived security threats.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in August that Israeli forces have so far this year carried out a weekly average of 79 search and arrest operations across the occupied Palestinian territory.

Nearly 6,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in Israeli jails, according to prisoners' rights group Addameer.

Addameer estimates that 40 percent of the Palestinian male population has been arrested at some point.